Photos: Latest “Avengers” Set Pix!

Here’s the latest set pix from this summer’s upcoming superhero blockbuster The Avengers!

Lots to pour over in these photos.

More after the jump …

Video: First Trailer for THE AVENGERS!

Avengers assemble!

Photo: First AVENGERS Photo!

Their chairs are ready and waiting.

Joss Whedon Doesn’t Make Hit Shows!

And he says so himself:  “I don’t make hit shows; I make shows that stick around.”

According to Variety, the creator of “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” and “Dollhouse” made these comments in a recent conference call promoting the second season of the latter series.

He also said of his fan base that “they’re in it for the long haul. … The long haul is how my work pays off

This is part of a concerted effort on Whedon’s part to carve out a new niche for creators of his ilk.  Those creators who cannot post large ratings numbers but nonetheless have rabid fan followings who help the show’s parent companies make added revenues through DVD and the sale of ancillary products like video games, comic books and other related products.

The suggestion is that in this fractured media age, viewers like this can be more valuable (from an advertising and revenue perspective) than a larger less committed viewership.

And he may be right.  Whedon could well become the poster child for whole new type of TV creator.   One who creates niche products which effectively reach a small but committed base.

But we’re not so sure.  He may just be pushing himself out of the network landscape.  Because the type of product he’s describing already has an effective venue … cable television.

Video: “Dollhouse” S2 Takes “Summer-y” Route

Yup, someone familiar to Whedonites will be appearing on S2 of “Dollhouse”.   Watch the video to find out who it is.

more about “Video: Dushku’s “Summer-y” for S2 of…“, posted with vodpod

2009 Hugo Awards!

So it’s that time of year again … time for the Hugos!  The most famous and prestigious Science Fiction award in the world.  It’s run by the World Science Fiction Society (WSFS) in conjunction with the World Science Fiction Convention (Worldcon).   Voting is open to anyone who is either an attendee or supporting member of the latest Worldcon.

The fiction categories offered no real surprises.  In fact, all winners had previous Hugos to their credit.  Though some might be surprised to see Neil Gaiman grabbing the top honors in the novel category for “The Graveyard Book” which is a children’s book and not expressly Science Fiction.

Joss Whedon’s web series “Doctor Horrible’s Sing-a-long Blog” won the short-form dramatic category, ending a three year winning streak for Steven Moffat and Doctor Who.

And Pixar’s Wall-E edged out The Dark Knight for a win in the long-form dramatic category.

Here is the full list of the winners:

• Best Novel: The Graveyard Book, Neil Gaiman (HarperCollins; Bloomsbury UK)
• Best Novella: “The Erdmann Nexus”, Nancy Kress (Asimov’s Oct/Nov 2008)
• Best Novelette: “Shoggoths in Bloom”, Elizabeth Bear (Asimov’s Mar 2008)
• Best Short Story: “Exhalation”, Ted Chiang (Eclipse Two)
• Best Related Book: Your Hate Mail Will Be Graded: A Decade of Whatever, 1998-2008, John Scalzi (Subterranean Press)
• Best Graphic Story: Girl Genius, Volume 8: Agatha Heterodyne and the Chapel of Bones, Written by Kaja & Phil Foglio, art by Phil Foglio, colors by Cheyenne Wright (Airship Entertainment)
• Best Dramatic Presentation, Long Form: WALL-E Andrew Stanton & Pete Docter, story; Andrew Stanton & Jim Reardon, screenplay; Andrew Stanton, director (Pixar/Walt Disney)
• Best Dramatic Presentation, Short Form: Doctor Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog, Joss Whedon, & Zack Whedon, & Jed Whedon, & Maurissa Tancharoen, writers; Joss Whedon, director (Mutant Enemy)
• Best Editor Short Form: Ellen Datlow
• Best Editor Long Form: David G. Hartwell
• Best Professional Artist: Donato Giancola
• Best Semiprozine: Weird Tales, edited by Ann VanderMeer & Stephen H. Segal
• Best Fan Writer: Cheryl Morgan
• Best Fanzine: Electric Velocipede edited by John Klima
• Best Fan Artist: Frank Wu

And the John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer (presented by Dell Magazines): David Anthony Durham

For the full list of nominees click here.

Rumors, Reboots and Reputations: This Week at GHOST RADIO!

Another thrill-packed week of news at the GHOST RADIO blog.

We considered dinosaurs that still walk the earth, UFOs that fly in formations, and monsters that might just be logs.

We saw an animal cloned, a TV show reborn and another exhibited.

There was that creature not cute enough for Disney, some creatures who need a Doctor (or maybe not), and something that made Joss Whedon say “NO!”

And, finally, a call to the talented,  a questionable haircut, and some mooning.

Not bad for a lazy week in June.

If there’s something you want us to cover let us know.  Either talk about it in the comment section or send an email to ghostradioinfo@gmail.com.

It’s your blog just as much as it is ours.

Plus, if you need a copy of the GHOST RADIO the book this site is all about, you can order one here.

Whedon Says “No” to Buffy Reboot!

Joss Whedon poses with the Buffy gang.

Reboot fever doesn’t seem to be an illness Joss Whedon wants to catch.  Especially when it involves his brain child Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

In an interview with Entertainment Weekly,  he had this to say about the remake/reboot:

I believe [the producers] did ultimately reach out to my agent after the news broke,” Whedon says. “I think that’s something better left untouched by me. So, I wish them luck.

Wise move, Joss.

“Dollhouse” Renewal Official

Fox announced its fall schedule today, making the “Dollhouse” second season official.

It will maintain its slot on Friday nights at 9pm, but now its lead-ins will be two sitcoms, new show “Brothers” and the returning show “Til Death.”

For those who haven’t seen “Dollhouse” yet, you can catch up when first season is released on DVD on July, 28, 2009.   It’s already available for pre-order at Amazon and similar sites.

Joss Whedon Wins Bradbury Award!

From Locus Magazine Online:

SFWA President Russell Davis announced on February 16 that Joss Whedon, creator of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, Firefly, Dollhouse, etc., has been named recipient of the Bradbury Award for excellence in screenwriting.

“Like everyone who picks up a pen, I was a rabid Bradbury fan and as greatly influenced by him as any other writer I read. To receive the award named for him is an honor I’d not dreamed of,” said Whedon. “In my defense, it didn’t exist back then. What did exist were the very lovely, very twisted and very human stories that warped my impressionable mind, and that I have tried, in whatever medium they will let me, to measure up to.”

Whedon will be presented the award during the Nebula Awards Weekend in Los Angeles, California, April 24-26, 2009.